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Library cards
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From: MEGawr at aol.com <MEGawr>
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 2004 21:43:37 EDT
Please allow one more idea on Library Cards as Reading Motivator. Here is a program that we introduced at our library in Orlando a few years when I was Head of Ch.Serv. We had many inner city children coming into the library without parents and the parents were reluctant to even get a card for their child because of the worry of lost books and fines. As you know reading motivation, books and library cards are far from the thoughts of those parents who are struggling financially and in many other ways. Every librarian knows the feeling of denying a child a book to check out because they do not "qualify" for a card. In effect we are telling them- you are not good enough for us because you cannot follow our arbitrary rules. And that will kill a lot of potential reading motivation.
The "Kids Card" is given to any child who comes in to the library and wants to check out a book. The card allows the child one book with no strings (no fees, no fines). The child can check out another book when the first book is returned. (When I proposed the program I wanted to give the child 2 or 3 books so that if one was lost the card could still be used. That didn't fly but I was grateful the Administration went with the idea at all.) You can limit the book to a paperback if necessary. When the child is given the card a notice is sent to the parent explaining the card and offering a standard library card explaining the benefits. The program was not advertised probably so that parents would not substitute this for a standard card but it was made available to children when they came in to the library. I am no longer there but I think the program is still being used. It won an award as best Elem. age program in FLA that year.
Received on Mon 18 Oct 2004 08:43:37 PM CDT
Date: Mon, 18 Oct 2004 21:43:37 EDT
Please allow one more idea on Library Cards as Reading Motivator. Here is a program that we introduced at our library in Orlando a few years when I was Head of Ch.Serv. We had many inner city children coming into the library without parents and the parents were reluctant to even get a card for their child because of the worry of lost books and fines. As you know reading motivation, books and library cards are far from the thoughts of those parents who are struggling financially and in many other ways. Every librarian knows the feeling of denying a child a book to check out because they do not "qualify" for a card. In effect we are telling them- you are not good enough for us because you cannot follow our arbitrary rules. And that will kill a lot of potential reading motivation.
The "Kids Card" is given to any child who comes in to the library and wants to check out a book. The card allows the child one book with no strings (no fees, no fines). The child can check out another book when the first book is returned. (When I proposed the program I wanted to give the child 2 or 3 books so that if one was lost the card could still be used. That didn't fly but I was grateful the Administration went with the idea at all.) You can limit the book to a paperback if necessary. When the child is given the card a notice is sent to the parent explaining the card and offering a standard library card explaining the benefits. The program was not advertised probably so that parents would not substitute this for a standard card but it was made available to children when they came in to the library. I am no longer there but I think the program is still being used. It won an award as best Elem. age program in FLA that year.
Received on Mon 18 Oct 2004 08:43:37 PM CDT
